African Development Bank and WFP launch USD 87 million project to strengthen agriculture in Sudan

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) have signed the USD 87 million Boosting Agrifood Systems Resilience in Sudan (BOOST) project, aimed at strengthening food systems and supporting farmers in regions central to Sudan’s food supply, according to a press release by the World Food Programme. The four-year initiative was launched on 22 May at a ceremony held at AfDB’s East Africa Regional Office in Nairobi. It arrives at a critical moment, with more than 19 million people in Sudan facing crisis levels of hunger or worse. The partnership seeks to help farming communities restore production, reduce post-harvest losses, and improve incomes. It also aims to strengthen linkages to local markets across affected regions.

BOOST will operate in four locations within the rainfed farming areas of Sennar State and Blue Nile State. These regions have long been major crop producers in Sudan. However, their productivity remains hindered by rudimentary farming practices and disruptions caused by conflict. As a result, many farmers have been pushed toward subsistence-level activities. The project is designed to address these structural challenges directly.

The initiative will work with more than 230,000 farming households expected to produce nearly 1 million metric tons of cereals and pulses over the project’s duration. This output is sufficient to meet the annual cereal consumption needs of nearly 9 million people and the pulse needs of more than 15 million people. BOOST is delivered by WFP under the Bank’s third party-implementing arrangements. It works in partnership with other UN entities and agricultural research institutions. Additional components include organizing farmer groups for training and agribusiness development.

“During recent field visits across the country, farmers who already work with WFP in our resilience activities told me that they did not require food assistance even during the war,” said Abdallah Alwardat, WFP Sudan Country Director.

He added that farmers supported by WFP preserved their agricultural schemes and improved yields of wheat and sorghum.

“Investing in Sudan’s farmers is investing in the country’s recovery and long-term resilience,” said David Muthusi Mutuku, AfDB Country Manager for Sudan.

He noted that the partnership supports practical solutions for staple food production. The initiative also aims to strengthen rural economies and help communities withstand future shocks.

BOOST builds on the ongoing Sudan Emergency Wheat Production Project, also implemented by WFP. Through such projects, partners support Sudan’s shift from short-term humanitarian assistance toward local food production in emergency conditions. This approach maintains strategic continuity and technical engagement in agricultural resilience and recovery. The AfDB and WFP have a growing partnership in Sudan, with USD 267 million invested in Bank-financed, WFP-implemented resilience activities since 2023. Together, these efforts mark a sustained commitment to rebuilding Sudan’s agricultural foundations.